An Ode

Wherever I go

In the world

I will always

Go into the sea

To gather

Shells

For you

I will send home

The bodies of starfish

Lying alone

Seared on the sand

Stuck

I will release them

For you

To soothe

In an English pond

To be nudged

By diving beetles

Brushed gently

By groping frogs

Drifting slowly

To the surface

For the light.

I will find you rock

Like coal

That will be misplaced

That my father will throw

Onto the fire…

I will trek 

Mountain trails

And forest paths

Picking long pine cones

And round pine cones

And baby ones

For you.

And you can put them all

In a big bowl

Arrange them how you like

So long as they give you happiness

Every day.